FRIENDS OF TIBETAN SETTLEMENTS IN INDIA (“FOTSI”) Annual Report and Newsletter for 2007-8 Projects in Mundgod and Bylakuppe Settlements Health Board of Directors Chela Kunasz, President Paul Kunasz, Secretary Education Ken Bernstein, Director Sherry Hart, Director Deborah Howard, Director Volunteer Staff Leadership Michelle Harris Many Tibetans Newsletter Ken Bernstein Chela Kunasz Partners Friends of Tibetan Settlements in India FOTSI” 35 Skylark Way Boulder, CO 80303 303-494-430 [email protected] www.kunasz.com/FOTSI/FOTSI.html Financial Report for 2007 (ref. IRS Filing, Marty,Lyle, Doty & Jones, LLC) Income Donations $55,996 Interest Income $ 99 Total Income $56,987 Expenses Program $46,96 Fundraising (newsletter, US mail) $ 44 Administrative (e.g. IRS reports, State Reg) $ 569 Total Expenses $47,909 Our Program Expenses in 2007: Education $10,972 College+ Nursing Scholarships, Boarding School Fees (TCV),Dre- Gomang School, books, other student aid Health/Hygiene/Emergency Aid $12,073 Representative’s Emergency Fund, Hospitals, Monks’ and Nuns’ Medical Funds, direct aid during trip to India Sponsorships/Self-Sufficiency/GroupSupport $19,380 45 sponsorships through Rep. Office, temporary for others, cow purchases, nuns and 39 monks sponsored, other one-time aid Leadership Programs (new for 2007) $ 1,950 Tibetan leaders and projects, including generator for pump Camp #6, computer setup Tibetan Women’s Assoc., English for nuns’ tour, computer aid for translators, plans for loan education Program Expenses for India $ 2,541 Travel to/in India (most donated by President) $2110, mail to India directly for program $37, and supplies used in India ($04) Including our early work as CFT/TSI, and later as FOTSI, our program service has exceeded $400,534. Other work has been done in our name or with our advice by groups working with Tibetans in India, Nepal, and Tibet. As usual, no salaries have been paid to anyone in FOTSI. We deeply thank all donors who have donated for FOTSI’s operating expenses! July 2008 Dear Friends of Tibetan Settlements in India, Words cannot express our gratitude for all your help to Tibetans! They continue to write to FOTSI and many of you, with gratitude for your invaluable financial support and heartfelt encouragement in these difficult times. In 2007-8 we sponsored 105 people, including laypeople, monks, nuns, students, and teachers. We helped hundreds more through our Demonstrations in Tibet 2008 medical, self-sufficiency, educational, and infrastructural efforts. Our direct support for people and projects in India was $46,916. This aid goes far due to low costs in India and no FOTSI salaries. This year we entered new realms with our Tibetan partners and creative donors. Our leadership program, initiated by a grant from the Mediators’ Foundation, bore fruit in new leaders and wonderful projects, such as the generator for dependable water for Mundgod’s Camp #6, aid to a first ever nun’s tour for 2009, and a computer setup for the Tibetan Women’s Association. Our scholarship program has produced 6 graduate nurses working in hospitals in India, while other students near graduation, and 5-7 new scholarships begin. We’ve aided the Tibetan Volunteers for Animals, whose work helps both animals and humans (rabies shots, etc.). This newsletter has many examples of great things you made happen. I was fortunate my health improved enough for me to travel to the Mundgod settlement for January of 2008, and to be there for the 2 weeks when HH the Dalai Lama gave teachings and talked with his people. There was a happy mood, with Tibetans celebrating the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Dalai Lama in an inspiring ceremony in Washington, D.C. on October 17, 2007. Our photo collage on the back of this newsletter shows him at that time, with Nancy Pelosi in the background (top, center). Image of Tibet Unfortunately, in spite of Tibetan hopes rising early in 2008, this has been a terrible year for Tibetans. Our Tibetan friends in settlements in India have had to watch as over 200 Tibetans were killed, over 1000 injured, 5714 arrested, and many disappeared in Tibet up to mid-May of this year. Frightening news is still coming in. The large number of peaceful demonstrations (see them dotted on the inserted map of many prefectures in Tibet and China) were widely distributed in the Tibetan Autonomous Region as well as many parts of Tibet not included as the “Tibet” region on maps. Doctors who aided injured demonstrators were injured. Monks have been forced into “re-education”. Many Tibetans I’ve communicated with in the USA and Mundgod were told by relatives not to call or write until further notice. Information is sparse. Identity cards are needed every few blocks in Lhasa, and without them, one is arrested. The dream of old mystical, free Tibet seems far away. Tibetans in India and the USA have been active in peaceful vigils, information programs, demonstrations, and prayer. They plead with the world not to forget them. 3 In a statement by HH the Dalai Lama during an interview by Der Spiegel in Germany, he replied to a question about some violence and possible arson by young Tibetans in Lhasa: “I assume that this was the case. I condemn it, and it makes me sad to see my fellow Tibetans acting in this way – even though it was most certainly the result of deep-seated disillusionment and despair over being second-class citizens in Tibet their own country. But this is no excuse for violence. I have proposed an international investigation of the events in Tibet, to be completed by a recognized, independent institution. But one thing is certain. It was, for the most part, innocent Tibetans who suffered under the brutality of the police and the military. We deplore the loss of more than 200 lives. But we too lack a complete and detailed picture of what happened and is still happening in Tibet.” The media, mail, phone calls and email are all heavily monitored. Tibetan aid organizations and information sources have had their email and websites hacked, and even a Chinese woman only trying to promote dialogue had her parents attacked so badly they’ve gone into hiding. As of June 25th, the Chinese Government reopened Tibet to tourists after it had been closed due to unrest in Tibet. The decision to allow tourists back partly resulted from passing the Olympic torch through Lhasa without protests. However, the situation is still not normal in Tibet. Many of the monasteries have been closed and only a few tourists have been seen in Lhasa. Many groups had to cancel trips. Some are planning for 2009. There was also damage to some Tibetan communities due to the earthquake which was so damaging in China. We’ve had little further news about that. Our hearts do go out to both the Tibetan and Chinese people who suffered and died in that catastrophe. The Tibetans in India remain hugely grateful for all of your support. They also hope that you will all speak out for them and their parents and relatives, many of whom are silent in Tibet. With Gratitude, Chela Kunasz, President, FOTSI World Tibet Day, Boulder, CO 2008 4 Leadership Projects – 2007 Great Impetus from the Mediators Foundation Brings Action Kharyak Charitable Society Leadership Projects In our 006-7 newsletter we wrote that donor Jennifer Fox helped FOTSI get a $500 grant for leadership training from the Mediators Foundation led by Mark Gerzon. The grant has had excellent results. We sent $650.00 to the Kharyak Charitable Society (KCS) for training and helping new Tibetan leaders. Mr. Tenpa TK, head of KCS and Mundgod’s assemby, embodies the kindness and compassion the Tibetan culture encourages. He chose to work with the Camp #6 leader, Mr. Tenzin Gyelek, who, after researching the needs of Camp #6 residents, proposed the water pump alternate power supply project. All of us worked to raise funds for this project, with Mr. Tenpa TK and the Generator Tibetans raising $1550 and FOTSI sending $3450 from 27 donors. We are delighted that an appropriate pollution and noise controlled generator has been purchased and installed. The Tibetans put a plaque above the generator to thank us! Our photo of the generator shows the new Camp #6 leader, Mr. Tenzin Namgyal, and Mr. Kalsang, the pump operator, known as the “waterman”. Now, when the regular electricity is off for significant periods (up to weeks), the many hundreds of people of Camp #6 can get water! Previously, they had to carry buckets, ride in jeeps, etc. to try to get water. We explored alternative possibilities (e.g. individual and play pumps popular in Africa), but the generator we finally got was the only practical and appropriate choice. This is one of FOTSI’s most useful projects. The other half of the funds we sent KCS was used to assist the Mr. Tenpa TK +wife Dr. Kyizom President of the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) in Mundgod, Ms. Tsering Palmo. She used that plus another $900 FOTSI sent to purchase everything for a complete computer setup (computer, printer, digital camera, supplies, power protection) for the TWA. She has had training and advice from Mr. Tenpa and others about equipment use, data collection, and presentations. Other TWA women also use this equipment. Using this setup is good training and saves a lot of time. TWA works hard to assist and speak for the community in Mundgod. They tutor school children, work for cleanliness in the community, and speak for all the Tibetans about conditions in Tibet, their community, and they cultivate warm interactions in India. They speak up for non-violence and are an Ms.